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Impeachment trial hangs over Trump state of union speech
WASHINGTON, Feb 4, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – America’s divisions will enter into burning focus Tuesday
when President Donald Trump delivers the annual State of the Union speech to Congress, just
ahead of his expected acrimonious impeachment acquittal.
The State of the Union is a grand set-piece in the US political calendar, a rare occasion
when bitter opponents traditionally observe a truce while the president lays out a vision for
the future.
But Trump will drive up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol at a time of rancor arguably
unmatched for decades — and likely to worsen as the November presidential election
approaches.
The White House promises Trump will be “relentless” in talking up the US economy and the
“blue collar boom” when he takes to the podium at around 9:00 pm (0200 GMT Wednesday).
“I think the speech is going to have a very optimistic tone,” a senior administration
official told reporters.
The reality is that Trump will be entering a chamber where only last December the
Democratic-led House of Representatives, the lower chamber, impeached him for abuse of power
and obstructing Congress.
And he’ll be looking out over a group of legislators where only a narrow Republican majority
in the upper chamber Senate is likely to save his job when a verdict vote comes Wednesday.
— Unrepentant Trump —
The speech could in theory be an opportunity to reach out and heal a nation boiling over in
mistrust.
Trump could express regret for what even several of his own Republican senators agree was
wrongful behavior in pushing Ukraine to open a questionable corruption probe against one of
his main Democratic presidential opponents, Joe Biden.
Or he could seek to calm the waters by entirely avoiding the topic of impeachment, just as
Bill Clinton did during his post-impeachment State of the Union in 1999.
White House officials say they don’t know what he’ll do.
“It’s never safe to assume anything,” the administration official said, when asked if
impeachment will be kept out of the speech.
Republican senator, Roy Blunt, told The New York Times that Trump should “avoid” the “i”
word.
“It’s an opportunity to move on,” Blunt said, while acknowledging that the real estate
tycoon and reality TV show performer is not the type to turn down the volume.
“The other option is to address it head on — and he is often a head-on kind of guy.”
— No end in sight —
Right before the speech on Tuesday, the Senate will be finishing up the impeachment trial.
Closing arguments took place Monday.
But even though the proceedings will end with Wednesday’s verdict vote, the Democrats say
they’ll keep going at Trump.
“President Trump’s constitutional crimes, his crimes against the American people and the
nation remain in progress,” said Democrat Val Demings, one of the impeachment managers
prosecuting the case before the Senate on Monday.
“The plot goes on, the scheming persists and the danger will never recede,” Adam Schiff, the
lead impeachment manager, said, challenging Republicans to “speak the awful truth.”
While the Senate is safe ground for Trump, the Democratic majority in the House is expected
to continue aggressive probes of Trump’s alleged corruption.
The State of the Union address adds further drama to a packed political diary ahead of the
November presidential election.
The Democratic race for the party nomination kicked into high gear this week with the Iowa
Caucasus on Monday. The New Hampshire primary takes place in a week and from there the pace
will accelerate.
Several of Democratic contenders — including Senate jurors Amy Klobachar, Bernie Sanders
and Elizabeth Warren — will be sitting right there in the audience on Tuesday.
BSS/AFP/AU/12:15 hrs